Monday, March 09, 2015

Coava Coffee Roasters

While Portland has tons of coffee establishments worthy of a visit, there are a few that have come to embody the city's coffee scene, not only for the quality coffee but also due to the beauty of their abode. Coava Coffee Roasters is one of those spots.

Showing up to their flagship roastery on Grand just like Jerry and Fred, I had heard much of the cafe and the great caffeinated happenings that pour forth from behind their counter. Located in a shared space with Bamboo Revolution, their giant windows and garage door allows the occasional Portland sun and temperate breezes to flow in during operating hours. The interior also boasts tons of wood and concrete, arranged so their gorgeous corner counter stands as a pleasant centerpiece orbited by eclectic yet simple furniture.

The coffee I had that morning was an espresso of Los Nacientes Costa Rica and a metal filtered Chemex of an Ethiopian. The espresso, pulled short with brown crema, serenaded notes of bittersweet chocolate, mango, lime, sea salt and a little spinach, making for a voluptuously sweet pull. The pourover was hands-down one of the best Ethiopians I have had in some months, with Kool-Aid-Man-blasting-through-walls intensity of passion fruit, strawberry, orange and lemon, complimented with notes of caramel, hefeweizen, brazil nut and a touch of parsley.

With a second location not far away, I can only fathom that it holds similar delights as the shop on Grand. If you seek great coffee or just a peaceful, open spot to congregate, definitely make a stop by Coava if you're staying in town or simply passing through.

These wonderful folks made this visit possible in part. Make sure to check them out!